Biden administration warns Americans in Russia to 'leave immediately' as flights out of Moscow are cancelled

The US State Department issued a warning on Sunday to its citizens within the borders of Russia, recommending that they leave as soon as possible by whatever means they can.

However, leaving Russia is proving to be difficult for many foreigners, including American citizens, as more and more outbound flights are being. "An increasing number of airlines are cancelling flights into and out of Russia, and numerous countries have closed their airspace to Russian airlines," the State Department said in their statement.

The State Department's website reports that "an increasing number of airlines are cancelling flights into and out of Russia, and numerous countries have closed their airspace to Russian airlines."

"US citizens should consider departing Russia immediately via commercial options still available," continues the report.

The State Department listed several "actions to take" by US citizens unable to leave Russia immediately. They recommended monitoring the media, notifying friends and family, awareness of one's surroundings, and carrying proper ID at all times, among other things.

The State Department's final recommendation was for Americans to "have a contingency plan that does not rely on US government assistance. The US has issued economic sanctions against Russia, which are currently in place.

The agency also strongly advised against any Americans visiting Russia at this time, stating the following:

"Do not travel to Russia due to ongoing tension along the border with Ukraine, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens, the embassy's limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, COVID-19 and related entry restrictions, terrorism, harassment by Russian government security officials, and the arbitrary enforcement of local law."